KUTZTOWN, Pa. – First grade students from Kutztown Elementary School spent a part of their afternoons in O'Pake Field House on Tuesday afternoon as Kutztown University student-athletes, coaches and administrators supported the nationwide celebration of National Girls and Women in Sports Day.
 
Youngsters got the chance to interact with KU student-athletes and participate in several different sports. Students moved from station-to-station during the 90-minute session and got to spend their Tuesday afternoon kicking soccer balls, practicing their softball swing, making a put on the green, trying for an ace on the tennis court, making a free-throw, running in relay races, trying to bowl a strike and even scoring a goal on the ever-intimidating head coach Erik Burstein.
 
Student-athletes from all 13 of Kutztown's women's teams, including acrobatics & tumbling in their first year participating in the event, along with members of the football and cheerleading teams, participated as instructors of sport skill stations in a way to promote sport participation to the younger generation. Following the skill stations, participants took-in a healthy lunch while conversing with some student-athletes, providing a mentoring experience.
 
Celebrating Women in Sports Day is a nod to all those individuals and organizations who are on the front line for girls and women in sports: the organizations committed to advancing women's issues, athletes who have overcome barriers, coaches who challenge their teams to succeed, girls who have faith in their own potential and all those who continue to use the power of example to inspire greatness.
 
Congress has proclaimed this national day each year since 1987. The Day is devoted to recognizing the progress of girls and women in sports, and the benefits that sports and fitness activities can bring to the lives of all girls and women.
 
The Kutztown men's and women's basketball games against Millersville at Keystone Arena on Monday, Feb. 6, will be in honor of Girls and Women in Sports Day and the Kutztown first graders will have tickets to attend.